Probable cause
Inadequate supervision by the certified flight instructor, resulting in a delayed stall recovery attempt.
NTSB analysis
The certified flight instructor (CFI) and his private pilot student were practicing stalls. They were initiating the stalls about 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL) and recovering by 1,500 feet AGL. During the third stall, the student pilot initiated recovery and the airplane was descending straight ahead at about 1,500 feet AGL. The CFI took control of the airplane between 800 and 1,000 feet AGL and determined the airplane was in a straight ahead stall. The CFI was unable to recover the airplane to normal flight and it impacted trees in a forested area. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot was seriously injured.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09CA287 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 9, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Muskogee, Oklahoma
- Nearest airport
- Davis Field Airport (MKO)
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Pitts Aerobatics S-2B
- N-number
- N6027V
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.